Sport Nutrition Education No. III - Learn More About Anaemia

What is Anaemia ?

Anaemia is most often manifested by a deficiency in the quantity of haemoglobin, or the size or number of red blood cells. Sports anaemia is most commonly seen in athletes, but only iron deficiency anaemia is directly related to diet.

Sports Anaemia

It is characterised by a below normal haemoglobin level. Possible causes are as follows:

Other factors which increase the risk of sports anaemia include sudden increase in training volume or intensity, especially at the start of an intensive program. A diet low in iron aggravates the condition, but short term sports anaemia is an early adaptation to intense training and is not necessarily diet related.

Endurance athletes are susceptible to having a below normal haemoglobin level which may be due to an increase in plasma volume and does not always indicate the presence of anaemia.

Treatment depends on the cause and may include:

diet modification to match increased training

iron supplementation

modification of training intensity upon discussion with coach

Iron Deficiency Anaemia

The following conditions are present in individuals with this disease :

a below normal serum haemoglobin level

the average size of red blood cells are smaller than normal

blood with a lighter red colour than normal

the total haemoglobin concentration in red blood cells are fewer than normal

Excessive Amounts of Iron May Have Detrimental Effects

Excessive iron intake is usually caused by taking supplements and not from food sources. Iron intake of 100 mg or more a day can interfere with the absorption of other minerals such as copper, zinc, causing deficiencies of these nutrients. Iron in excess will be deposited in liver cells causing symptoms of cirrhosis. It may also deposit in joints, pancreas, heart and lungs.

Iron is an important component in haemoglobin. A diet which is adaquate in iron can prevent iron deficiency anaemia.

If you feel abnormally tired during training and get sick easily, inform your coach and seek help from the Sport Nutritionist and Sport Biochemist to see if you are suffering from anaemia.